God's Own Country

Kerala state minister for co-operatives and temples is a controversial figure ever since he assumed his new position. Whenever he opens his mouth, a new controversy starts! As a staunch materialist and communist, he'll never believe that it's his fate. Take the recent 'Yesudas's right to enter Guruvayur Temple issue'. Sudhakaran was very earnest to write to the temple authorities to permit Yesudas pray inside the temple. But that letter has sparked another controversy. Now the debate is over the right of Thantris' (Head Priests) to surpass government orders.

Iam not a CPM sympathizer; yet i feel there is substance in what the minister is saying. As a social science student, i fear if the controversy will be pushed to the limits of questioning the relevance of Indian Constitution. Government rules are framed according to the Constitution of this country, whereas Thantris and temple rules are based on religious customs and conventions. Another interesting fact is that the term 'belief' is something hired from semitic religions which really has no roots in Indian culture. The core of Indian religious philosophy can be condensed to somewhat like this: 'You can believe or not believe, because all beliefs are blind. Strive to experience truth; once you experience truth there is nothing to be believed.' There is nothing like believers in Hinduism. Another interesting fact is that Thantra Sastra has its roots in non Vedic streams like Charvaka, Sankhya, and Yoga principles, which don't accept the existence of God!

The discussion Mahathma Gandhi made with Indanthuruthu Nampoodiri, the chief priest of Vaikom temple, for pressing the demand of 'Vaikom satryagrahis' is history. The Nampoodiri is said to have stated that 'Karmic Reaction' made people take birth as lower caste people, and that they have no right to enter the temple roads! Another 12 years, and the temple entry proclamation was issued in Travancore by late Sri Chitira Thirunal( at the behest of Sir C.P Ramaswami Iyer). Indanthuruthu Nampoodiri's ancestral house is now the Disrict Committee Office of CPM Toddy Workers Union; another karmic reaction indeed!